There was some mixed news on the transfer front for Rangers this midweek.
On one hand, a potential £3.2 million deal for Levski Sofia defender Jose Cordoba appears to be, if not quite dead in the water, then certainly thrashing against the tide.
Rangers Review reports that the Scottish Premiership runners up have cooled their pursuit of the Panama international amid suggestions that Cordoba is set to join Norwich City in England’s second tier instead.
At least, when it comes to potential reinforcements at the other end of the pitch, all the noises coming out of Rapid Bucharest suggest that Albion Rrahmani is on his way, though whether Rangers will be his destination remains to be seen.
Rangers eye Rapid Bucharest striker Albion Rrahmani
Rapid co-owner Victor Angelescu said last week that Rrahmani had an ’80 per cent’ chance of leaving the Romanian outfit in the summer window.
Speaking again, this time in conversation with Sport, the shareholder admitted that Rapid keeping their star men is ‘very unlikely’ indeed, Rrahmani seemingly outgrowing Romanian football despite only one season in the Eastern European nation.
“We cannot comment on the offers for Rrahmani or (Ermal) Krasniqi,” Angelescu explains. “But we can confirm that there is interest for both of them. There is a clear interest, but I would not like to go into details.
“We will see what happens. The season has just ended. The transfer window is long, and we will see. But there is interest in several Rapid players. We’ll see what we do together with Neil Lennon.
“Depending on the players who will leave, we will bring others in (their) place.”
A potentail Kemar Roofe replacement at Ibrox
Lennon, the Celtic legend, said during his official presentation as Rapid’s new head coach week that he was hoping to hang onto Rrahmani. The feels increasingly like wishful thinking, however.
The 23-year-old poacher arrived after winning the Golden Boot at Kosovan outfit Ballkani and took to life in a new league like the proverbial duck to water. Rrahmani scored 19 goals in all competitions, including 17 in the league.
“We discussed the transfer budget,” Angelescu adds. “As it was last year, it is clear that any money we receive for a player will be reinvested. And even if we don’t have sales, which is very unlikely, all Neil Lennon will need is clearly that we will make transfers.
“To say now what budget we have for transfers would be difficult.”
Rapid president Dan Sucu has indicated that £6.8 million would be a fair price for Rrahmani, a potential replacement for Kemar Roofe at Ibrox. Sport, however, believe that the club would actually accept a bid in the rgion of £4.2 million.
